PULLMAN Tim Pavish, who has served as interim vice president for university relations since November 2007 and as executive director of alumni relations and the WSU Alumni Association since 2003, has been named WSU’s vice president for university relations.
“Along with being a proud WSU alumnus, Tim is a respected professional with extensive experience and an in-depth knowledge of the university,” said President Elson S. Floyd. He has done an excellent job in the interim role, and I am confident he will continue to provide the leadership to move university relations forward in the future.”
Pavish returned to his alma mater with over 20 years of communications-agency experience. From 1996 to 2003 he was managing partner at DDB Worldwide, Inc. in Seattle, which was at the time the largest communications agency in the state. A Walla Walla native, Pavish earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from what is now the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at WSU. He was inducted into the Murrow College of Communication Alumni Hall of Achievement in April 2008.
“I came back to WSU to help my alma mater achieve its goals. As vice president for university relations, I will be able to fully leverage my communication experience to support the university,” Pavish said. “I am grateful for the opportunity President Floyd has given me, and as a Murrow graduate, I can think of no greater honor than to lead the communication initiatives for the university I love.”
Along with holding the vice presidential position, Pavish will continue to serve as the executive director of the WSU Alumni Association.
Debra Townsend, who came to the president’s attention as a finalist in the search process, has accepted a 12-month appointment to assist the university in its executive-level and research faculty communications.
Since 1997, Townsend has led a Loudonville, N.Y., consulting firm, Communications on Demand, which works with a variety of clients, mostly in academia, but also in industry, government, religion, high-technology and health care. The firm provides guidance on communications and marketing issues, crisis communications, staff restructuring and recruiting, fundraising, enrollment management and related issues.
Townsend has also served as vice president for external relations at Bennington College and as director of news and communications at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
“After advising so many colleges and universities, as well as a wide variety of corporations and organizations across the country over the past decade, I am very happy to bring all of my skills into a singular focus during an intense and exclusive year serving Washington State University. It is a terrific privilege to become an active part of the team that is forging exciting advancements and building great momentum at WSU,” Townsend said.
“As a public research university, it is vital that we keep in close contact with our many constituency groups, and I believe the talented team we have assembled in university relations will ensure we achieve that goal,” Floyd said.
Pavish’s appointment will take effect July 14; Townsend’s start date will be Aug. 18.
